June 12, 2011
Pentecost Sunday
John 20:19-23
Gospel Summary
On Pentecost Sunday we celebrate the wonderful good news that
the risen Lord has richly endowed us with his Spirit, first of all to
convince us of his victory over sin and death, and then to enable us to
continue his work of salvation by our own love and concern for others.
As we can well imagine, the disciples were filled with fear and
foreboding after the death of their master. But suddenly, Jesus is there
among them, radiant with life. He shows them his terrible wounds, which
have now become beautiful emblems of his love for them. He offers them
his peace--that deep, calm, resonant sense of well-being, which is so
different from their own fear and uncertainty. This peace becomes
possible through the presence of his Spirit in them and in us.
And then Jesus tells them and all of us what possessing the
Spirit will mean in our lives. Henceforth, we will need to be converted
from our natural tendency to be self-centered, cautious and defensive to
an attitude of confidence and trust as we share our newfound loving
concern for others. This new way of living will be manifested first and
foremost by our willingness to forgive others. This would be impossible
if we did not enjoy the powerful presence of the Spirit who enables us
to overcome our constant judgmental tendencies.
Life Implication
As fragile human beings, we know the experience of living in
fear and of being anxious and worried about many things, some of which
exist only in our imagination. Jesus, having absorbed the ultimate
violence, offers us his peace and thereby enables us to be confident and
joyful in the face of uncertainty and threat. This represents a real
experience of liberation from the paralysis of fear--a paralysis that
often prevents us from doing beautiful and risky things, like giving cut
flowers! A potted plant may seem more practical and "safe" but cut
flowers bear a stronger message of the "risk" of real love.
With the Spirit's peace and joy comes the obligation to share
our blessings with others. It was once thought that the command of Jesus
to forgive or retain sins was addressed only to priests and referred
only to the Sacrament of Reconciliation. But, in fact, this charge, in a
less formal fashion, is undoubtedly addressed to all the followers of
Jesus. We must all accept the wonderful and awesome responsibility of
offering or withholding forgiveness. In this case, the sin of omission
looms large and should make us all examine our consciences in regard to
the many times that we may have persisted in the foolish comfort of
nursing old injuries or have refused to make allowance for extenuating
circumstances in the lives of those we call sinners.
In this regard, we should recall the very strong words of Jesus
in the Sermon on the Mount: "Judge not, that you be not judged. For with
the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and the measure you give
will be the measure you get" (Matthew 7:1-2). We all know how much we
hope to have a merciful judge and now we also know how to assure that
happy outcome.
It is, of course, very difficult to live such an ideal
forgiveness. And that is why Jesus offers us the Holy Spirit who, if
given half a chance, will empower us to become the kind of gentle,
caring and compassionate persons that can make a real difference in a
world that desperately needs the witness of love and forgiveness. Let us
all rejoice in this wonderful gift of the Spirit.
Demetrius R. Dumm, OSB
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